Electrical wire fence with plastic posts



Jan. 28, 1958 J. LACH V ELECTRICAL wm: FENCE wrm PLASTIC POSTS Filed .mn25.11955 FIG. 4

INVENTOR JOHN LACH I ATTORNEY Un ed ees P ELECTRICAL WIRE FENCE WITHPLASTIC POSTS John Lach, Oak Harbor, Ohio Application June 23, 1955,Serial No. 517,468

' 1 Claim. Cl. 256-19) 7 This invention relates to a novel postconstruction, and more particularly relates to a new and improved,electrically non-conductive, plastic fence post.

Up to the present time, posts adapted to be driven or otherwise placedin the ground have been formed from a variety of materials. In mostinstances, however, either wooden or steel posts have been employed inconventional fence construction.

Despite the higher cost and the difliculties encountered by therelatively rapid corrosion rate of steel, even when coated withcorrosion resistant paint or other coating, steel posts are widely used.Posts formed of more corrosion resistant metals or alloys, whilegenerally minimizing the problem of corrosion, usually are too costly,or not readily available, thus precluding their use on a large scale.

Wooden posts, while generally available at a cost less than, orcompetitive with, steel posts, are susceptible to decay, rot, and insectattack. Although chemical treatment can be employed to minimize much ofthe insect attack, or decay, the cost of such treatment and/or thepractical difficulties involved in chemically treating such postsseriously limits such protection.

Thus far it will be appreciated that neither wood nor metal, thoughcommonly used, are completely satisfactory as materials of constructionfor fence posts or other posts to be driven into the ground or placed inthe ground by other means.

The difliculties heretofore encountered are magnified in theconstruction of the so-called electrically charged fences which providean electrical shock on contact therewith.

Such fences are finding increasing application because of theireffectiveness in retaining animals with a minimum of wire in comparisonwith conventional fence construction.

While the wooden or steel posts heretofore employed in electricallycharged fences are, of course, susceptible to the aforementioneddiflicnlties, additional problems are encountered in maintaining aproper electrical circuit through the fence. In the past, a multiplicityof insulators secured to the posts have been employed to prevent shortcircuiting or grounding of the electrically charged wire. Suchinsulators, typically formed of ceramic ware, have been secured to theposts, and one or more wires supported thereby. It will be appreciatedthat in addition to the expense of installing such insulators, furthercost frequently is involved in their maintenance and periodicreplacement.

Hence, the principal object of this invention is to avoid the problemsheretofore encountered in post construction and to provide a new andimproved fence post.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel electricallyinsulating post construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following description thereof.

The present invention comprises a solid, electrically Patented Jan. 2a,1958 non-conductive, plastic post adapted to be driven into the groundor otherwise placed therein, said post compris ing in cross-section acurved element having a reinforcing rib integrally joined to its convexsurface. More particularly, this invention comprises a solid,electrically non-conductive organic plastic fence post comprising incross-section a semi-circular element having a reinforcing ribintegrally joined to its convex surface.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a plastic postembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the post shown in Fig. 1;and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of fencingembodying this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a post,indicated generally at 10, embodying the preferred post construction ofthis invention. As shown in Fig. 1, post 10 has a cross-sectioncomprising a semi-circular element 12 having a reinforcing rib 14integrally secured thereto substantially at the circumferential midpointof its convex surface 16. At the lower portion of the post 10 is aflixeda brace or steady plate 18. This plate 18 is secured to the curved edges20 and 22 of post 10 by gripping flanges 24 and 26, which flanges areeither pressed out of the plate 18 or secured thereto by other means(not shown). Post 10 is provided with at least one slot 28 adapted toreceive and support a wire, e. g., the wire 30 shown in Fig. 4.

While a semi-circular element 12 is shown and is presently preferred, itwill be understood, of course, that certain other curved elements alsomay be used. Similarly,

while a pentagonal steady plate 18 is shown, plates of other shapes,attached in the same manner, also may be employed. The bottom of thepost 10 is cut at an angle, typically 60 with respect to the ground, tofacilitate entry of the post into the ground. In certain applications,the steady plate 18 may be slidably secured to the post thereby topermit driving the post into the ground, with subsequent driving of thesteady plate to a different depth than would be accomplished if therewere no relative sliding motion between the post 10 and plate 18.

While the proportions of the post cross-section may be varied somewhat,it is preferred to employ a construction wherein the rib 14 extends fromthe convex surface 16 a distance at least equal to a radius of theconcave surface 17 as shown in Fig. 2 and not substantially greater thana radius of the convex surface 16. The length of the post will, ofcourse, be dictated by practical considerations and the applicationintended.

Fig. 3 illustrates the preferred method of securing a steady plate tothe post, which method can either result in a rigid immovable mountingor in a slidable connection permitting relative longitudinal movementbetween the post and the plate.

Fig. 4 shows a portion of an electrically charged fence in accordancewith this invention and comprising an insulated or more commonly, anuninsulated wire 30 which may be either plain or barbed wire, and aplurality of solid, plastic, posts 32, 34 and 36. In operation, theseposts are placed in the ground and serve to support the wire 30 which isconnected to an electrical energy source (not shown). As shown in Fig.4, the wire 30 is secured to the posts by slots 38, 40 and 42. Thus, itwill be appreciated that proper operation of the electrically chargedfence is accomplished without the aid of any separately attachedinsulators since the posts themselves are electrically insulating.

In some instances, if desired, other means may be employed to secure thewire to the posts, e. g., wires disposed around the posts, or a slot,having a V-shaped cross-section, cut in the rib 14, thereby to aiford acrimping action on the wire.

The plastic material embodied in a post of this invention is anelectrically-insulating organic plastic having sufficient rigidity toprovide the strength and durability necessary.

While the particular plastic substance employed will, of course, bedictated by the specific application intended, in general it ispreferred to employ a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin whichis so formulated as to insure adequate strength and rigidity Withoutdisabling brittleness over the range of temperatures to be encountered.Illustrative of commercially available resins of the foregoing types arephenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins andmelamine-formaldehyde resins.

It is contemplated that such resins may contain conventional fillers,extenders, diluents or lubricants, including such materials as fabric,e. g., chopped, fibrous or in web form. Also included may be suitablecuring agents, catalysts, and the like. Posts embodying the inventionmay be formed by extrusion, molding or other fabrication means suitablefor the plastic selected. It is to be understood that, although theinvention has been described with specific reference to particularembodiments thereof,

it is not to be so limited since changes and alterations therein may bemade which are within the full intended scope of the invention asdefined by the following claim.

I claim:

A fence construction comprising, in combination, a plurality of solid,electrically-insulating, organic plastic fence posts having slots intheir upper portions to receive and support an uninsulated electricalWire, each of said posts comprising in cross section a semi-circularelement having secured to, and extending outwardly from, thecircumferential center of its convex surface a reinforcing ribintegrally joined thereto and extending from the convex surface adistance at least equal to a radius of the concave surface of said post,and an uninsulated wire secured in and supported by said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMilliken Sept. 29, 1891 Seymour Apr. 23, 1907 Frost June 28, 1910 FrantzMar. 31, 1914 Klumb Dec. 31, 1946 Du Batta et a1 Mar. 20, 1951

